Q: What is the game's genre?

A: Etherlords is a turn-based strategy bringing players a totally novel game play, which merges best of magic combat prompted by trade card games and strategic resource management.

Q: Why did you call the game Etherlords?

A: Ether is a mysterious, omnipresent substance out of which everything in the world of Etherlords is made. Ether knows no barriers; everything springs from it and returns to it after death, and its flow is life itself — the life of the Ether Universe. For the intelligent dwellers of this world, ether is a source of power and pure energy, sometimes referred to as magic. They are born with this ability — using invisible currents of energy flows, they create armor, weapons and servants... Ether is the thread from which they weave their world. We believe the term «lords» most adequately describes the nature of the game's heroes: they are not almighty gods, but they do have unlimited creative abilities. They reign over this Universe, and shape it according to their wishes.

Q: When will the game be released?

A: In November, 2001.

Q: When will the demo version of Etherlords be available?

A: : The demo-version will be released at the end of October, 2001.

Q: How many CDs will the game have?

A: 2 CDs.

Q: Is the game going to be similar to Evil Islands?

A: Etherlords is radically different from Evil Islands. These games have nothing in common, regarding both the genre and the plot. However, we hope that many of the Evil Islands fans will enjoy Etherlords also.

Q: Is the game going to be similar to Heroes of Might & Magic?

A: Despite the fact that both Etherlords and Heroes of Might & Magic share the same genre and take place in fantasy worlds, there is a serious difference between the two. Etherlords' core element is one-to-one combats between rival heroes, based on popular trade card games, where your only weapon is magic. Your heroes can summon monsters and cast spells. Monsters form your heroes' army, and fight for them. Monsters can both attack the opponent hero and block enemy monsters' attacks. If a certain amount of damage remains unblocked by the monsters you summoned, it is inflicted directly to your hero, which can eventually lead to the hero's death. In Etherlords (as well as in HoMM) your heroes will capture new territories and resources. However, in Etherlords you will use them to enhance your heroes' spell sets, buy runes that you need for casting spells in battle, and upgrade strategically important buildings under your control.

Q: What should I use in combat to fight more efficiently: weapons or magic?

A: Heroes in Etherlords do not use weapons in combat, they affect each other exclusively by magic.



Q: Is magic system in the game similar to the one used in Evil Islands?

A: Evil Islands and Etherlords are totally different games, and so are their magic systems.

Q: Will there be advisers in the game who'd help a novice player to find there way around?

A: There won't be advisers as such, but the game will have a system of tutorial screens.

Q: What does the game's magic system look like?

A: Your only weapon in Etherlords world is magic. Despite the fact that the Etherlords' magic system is based on popular trade card games, such as Magic: the Gathering, it is quite different from that of MTG: Ehterlords magic system is specially tailored for dynamic multiplayer combat on the Internet, and is much easier to grasp for people who have no experience in trade card games. The purpose of magic combat in the game is to destroy your opponent, using your custom set of battle spells. In combat you can summon various creatures, increase their strength by means of enchantments, weaken or destroy your opponent's creatures, and cast spells, which would give you additional advantages in battle.

Q: Will there be any limitations regarding the number of spells available during combat?

A: You will have to carefully plan and compile a spell book for your hero, to make the best of his strengths and to protect his weaker sides. The book will include only a limited set of spells, which makes selecting them an important strategic focus of the game. The individual set of spells reflects each hero's combat style. Your success depends on your ability to create a successful battle strategy by assembling an optimum set of battle spells.

Q: What kinds of global spells will be there in the game? A: There will be spells affecting castles, resources and heroes individually, as well as spells affecting the entire game world (within the current mission).

Q: Why will there be no spells constructor in the game?

A: Great variety of magical interaction in the game is achieved through a large number of ready-made spells and possible combinations in which they can be used. This is why we do not plan an opportunity to make new spells or modify the existing ones.

Q: Will there be base cities in the game?

A: Each race in the game will have its own Castle — the symbol of the race's control over an area. If the castle is destroyed by an opponent, the control is lost, and the mission is failed.

Q: How many kinds of resources will there be in the game?

A: There are seven kinds of resources in the game that gradually accumulate once you gain control over their sources. They are different in their availability and importance for each race. There is also ether, the one kind of resource that does not accumulate with time, which means that each day its amount stays the same, even if you didn't spend it. You will need ether to support your heroes and cast the so-called "global" spells, which can have major influence on the entire course of game events. You must acquire resources to be able to upgrade buildings, buy new spells and runes, which you need to cast spells in battle.

Q: If I dismiss a hero I summoned by mistake, do I get the resources back?

A: No; by summoning a hero you will spend some resources that cannot be returned to you in case you dismiss that hero.

Q: If I capture an enemy Castle in a multiplayer game, do I get more resources?

A: No. You cannot actually capture an enemy Castle, you can only destroy it together with all the resources it may have. After that your opponent loses and leaves the game.

Q: Will the heroes develop during the game?

A: Yes, they will. Victories over enemies give experience to your hero. Eventually the hero moves up to the next level. With each new level, hero's characteristics, such as health or a number of action points, are improved, and the chance to successfully apply hero's unique ability is increased. Also, the hero can acquire a new skill or improve one of those he already has. There are no limits on developing your heroes within the current mission, but you cannot take heroes with you to another mission.

Q: Will the heroes have specializations like in Heroes of Might & Magic?

A: Each hero in the game has a specialization, which is his unique ability. The best development strategy for your hero is to compile his Spell Book and set of skills in such a way that they would complement and reinforce his unique ability. Unlike HoMM, your hero's unique ability will not just reinforce his creatures and spells, but will also to provide him with new, otherwise unavailable opportunities.

Q: Will it be possible to create a unique character?

A: Each character in Etherlords is unique in his or her own way from the very start; but his/her further development depends entirely on the player.

Q: Can I destroy a hero without challenging him to a combat?

A: There are spells which can affect heroes before the combat starts, but the only way to destroy a hero is to wipe him out in combat.

Q: Can I "hide" a hero on the map using magic?

A: No.

Q: Can one computer-controlled hero play against another one (the game without human participation)?

A: The game runs automatically only during combats, if you press «Automatic combat» button. The human player can interrupt automatic combat at any moment and get back manual control.

Q: Can one computer-controlled player destroy another one, or do they always play together against the human player?

A: The game situation may develop in various ways; you may encounter both friendly and hostile computer-controlled players.

Q: Can I run away from the battlefield?

A: No, you cannot; nor can you refuse a combat in case you are challenged, or stop the combat which has already started.

Q: Can I surrender?

A: Yes, but in that case your hero dies.

Q: Can the battle end in a draw?

A: The battle ends in a draw only if both heroes die (it can happen if players use certain spells).

Q: Do monsters develop in combats?

A: Creatures' basic parameters remain the same, but they can be affected by other creatures, enchantments and sorcery. During combat heroes can improve parameters of creatures they summon and give them new abilities (by using special spells). Such spells work either for a limited period of time or until the combat ends. Parameters of NPC monsters on the strategic map (or the spells available to them) do not change in case the monsters beat the heroes in combats.

Q: Will there be artefacts in the game, like the ones in Heroes of Might & Magic?

A: Yes, there will be artefacts; however, they are not going to be like the ones used in HoMM at all. In Etherlords, artefacts contain spells that can be used in combat one or more times. Artefacts will contain both spells typical to a particular race, and spells that are otherwise inaccessible to all races.

Q: Can I make artefacts?

A: No; you can only find them on the map.

Q: Can I sell runes and artefacts?

A: There is no money in the world of Ether; trading there means swapping things or giving them away as presents. You can only swap artefacts and resources with other players if you establish trade relations with them. Spells and runes for them cannot be swapped or given away.

Q: Can players exchange resources between themselves?

A: Yes; that's what trade agreements are for.

Q: Can I give runes or spells to other players' heroes?

A: Heroes cannot swap runes or spells or give them to other heroes as presents (neither to heroes of their own nor other races). The most powerful global spell in the game requires several components which can be found on the strategic map. To cast that spell, one hero must have all of them. These components can be swapped between heroes.

Q: Can I swap heroes with other players?

A: No.

Q: Can I sell my hero to another player?

A: No.

Q: Does the terrain, where the combat takes place, matter?

A: The appearance of a battle arena where this or that combat would take place depends on the landscape of the adventure screen where your hero is currently positioned.

Q: How many different landscape types will there be in the game?

A: Each race's homeland looks different, so there will be four of them. However, there will be more combat screens in the game.

Q: What size will the maps have?

A: The biggest map will be 160 by 160 tiles, he smallest — 20 by 20.

Q: How long will it take to play on one map?

A: The playing time on one map largely depends on the number and positions of enemies and the size of the map. On a smallest map the player should spend about one hour; on a medium map - between 2 and 5 hours.

Q: Will there be a map editor available?

A: Map editor will not be there in the standard game set. Possibly a map editor will be available for downloading after the game release, but we have not yet finally decided on the matter.

Q: Will there be a scenario editor available?

A: Unfortunately so far we do not plan to provide user access to scenario editor.

Q: Are you planning to issue additional sets of maps and spells after the game release?

A: The game structure allows adding new sets of spells and effects for them, as well as new creatures, structures and maps to the game. However, the question about creating add-ons will be addressed after the game is released.

Q: How does the game's camera work?

A: In the adventure game mode, floating camera can be freely rotated and zoomed in or out almost without limitations. In combat game mode, you will be able to choose between free and automatic camera modes. Automatic camera is controlled by AI and shows the most important, vivid and interesting episodes of the combat.

Q: Will the music from the game be available?

A: Yes. All music will be openly stored on the game CD as mp3 files.

Q: How can I become Etherlords' beta-tester?

A: We are not accepting applications for the beta-test any longer, but we hope that those who didn't manage to take part in testing Etherlords will help us with testing our new projects.

Q: Is it possible to run the game in Windows XP

A: Windows XP is not mentioned in supported OS list. That's why you could have some errors while in this OS. A full support is included in a patch, which you can download from our web site at Files section.

Q: After performing the CD-check the game doesn't run and show errors "Runtime error :\Etherlords\Etherlords.exe abnormal program termination"

A:In some cases the absence of Internet Explorer version 5.0 or higher could be a cause of such error. To install the necessary component you may download the patch from our web site at Files section.

Q: The game runs slowly on fast computers and sometimes drops to Windows?

A:You should check the free hard disk space. For stable work it is necessary to have not less than 500Mb of free space. It is recommended to set automatic size of a swap-file. Also it is recommended to use certified video card drivers (for example, included in the game CD) and to close all other running applications such as ICQ and others.

Q: The camera doesn't turn or scroll in combat mode.

A:You should turn off the "Automatic camera" in game settings

Q: The game exits to windows after start with a window of run time error in Win2000.

A:: In is possible also when the game was installed under administrator account and it is played under another account or vice versa. It is necessary to launch the game from the same account that it was installed. The problem will be fixed in patch.

Q: The game hangs up at start.

A: It is possible on the computers without disk drive C: It is recommended to remap the disks or install the patch (the problem is fixed).

Q: Is the software antialiasing is supported by the game?

A: No, it is not supported.

Q: Where can I find console commands?

A: We decide not to publish them yet.

Q: Which video adapter will I need to play Etherlords?

A: The game requires a 3D accelerator with 8 Mb of video memory. We recommend using an AGP bus video adapter with 16 Ìb of video memory. You will also need a DirectX 7.0 (or higher) compatible driver for your operation system. The game works with video adapters only through API Direct3D. We do not plan to provide support for API Glide or OpenGL.

Preliminary testing showed that the game supports the following video adapters: nVidia GeForce 1-3; nVidia Riva TNT 1/2; 3dfx Voodoo 4/5; Matrox G200/G400; 3DLabs Permedia 3. 3dfx Voodoo 3 card is also supported, albeit with certain limitations.

The information about other video adapters supported will be published at the beginning of the 4th quarter of 2001, although it is certainly clear that the list of compatible video adapters will be extended.

Multiplayer game

Q: Will there be a Hot Seat multiplayer mode in the game?

A: Originally we haven't been planning to support Hot Seat mode in Etherlords, but since many players asked for it we decided to add this mode to the game. We are currently working on a special patch.

Q: What options will there be in the multiplayer game?

A: Multiplayer game is a mode allowing two or more player to play with (against) each other via a LAN or the Internet. There will be special maps for multiplayer game. To launch a game via a LAN, one of the players will have to create a new game and select a map, while the others will have to connect to him. Up to 8 people will be able to play on one map. At the time of original release, only Duel game mode will be supported for multiplayer games, both via LANs or the Internet. Internet multiplayer games will be played via GameSpy game server. Strategic multiplayer game will be released as a special patch; it will be made available at www.etherlords.com web-site in the 4th quarter of 2001.

Q: What do I need to play on the Internet?

A: First of all, you will need the Internet access. To connect to a game server, it will be sufficient to have a dial-up connection with at least 9.6 Kb/s speed. However, the higher your Internet connection speed, the more fun the game will be.

Q: How can I play a multiplayer game using LAN or Internet?

A:It depends on the connection type. Without Internet, you can connect using two modems by DialUp Server. In this small network you can play through Net game=>LAN game. In case of GameSpy or LAN game, you may not know the IP-address. In case of Internet game you have to know the IP-address of server to connect to

Q: How do I identify my IP address?

A:To obtain information about your network settings:
For Windows98: Type winipcfg in the command line (Menu "Start - "Run") and press "Enter".
For Windows2000: Type cmd in the command line (menu "Start" - "Run") press "Enter", and then type ipñonfig. The program will display the current network configuration of your machine including IP-address. If you are connected to more than one network - e.g. LAN and dial-up - make sure that the top drop-down box with network drivers shows the driver that connects you to the Internet. If you are using an automatic dial-up program, after connection is made, the program will probably inform you of the current IP-address.

If your particular problem is not covered by the FAQ or addressed in the forum, you can e-mail support@jowood.com. Be sure to include detailed information about your system.